Posted on October 8, 2024 by Valerie Bustamante Johnson
UTSA faculty Sidury Christiansen speaks to Sombrilla Magazine about her passion for inspiring the art of ballet folklórico in new generations.
A member from Ballet Folklórico de UTSA dances at the Light the Paseo event on Main Campus.
Many at UTSA know Sidury Christiansen, an associate professor in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development, for her impressive research, which focuses on the connection between language and culture. However, what might surprise them is the fact that several times each year you can see her swaying the hem of a ballet folklórico dress as she twirls on stage with members from the “Grupo Folklórico Los Correcaminos de UTSA”, also known as Ballet Folklórico de UTSA, a group she founded in 2017.
La danza folklórica became a part of Christiansen’s life more than 40 years ago, when she was living in the small village of Altotonga, Mexico. Today, she is sharing this talent and passion with students at UTSA to create an outlet at the university for our students to keep the culture alive. It is more than steps and music. It’s about telling stories, preserving traditions, and building sense of community.
Sombrilla Magazine sat down with Christiansen to learn why she continues to dance today and how ballet folklórico is connecting students to their culture.
— Valerie Bustamante Johnson
